Could a dent in a shotgun barrel possibly be fixed like hail damaged autos?

[Bullseye]

I was thinking about a tiny ding in a shotgun barrel and how they use dry ice to fix hail damage dents on cars. Now I know the steel is much stronger and thicker on a shotgun barrel but thought I'd ask.

 

[BBBBill]

Nope. Rent a hydraulic dent raiser from 4D Reamer Rentals.

 

[birdshot8's]

I saw a youtube, of a guy using socket set to push dent out of a magazine tube. He drove a socket past the dent and progressed in diameter until he had one about the id of the tube. taped on the outside to blend in the edge of the dent. I could not see any sign of the dent when he finished.

 

[carbine85]

I think Midwayusa has a video on that. Check out their youtube videos.

 

[dfariswheel]

There's a world of difference between a dent in a thin steel magazine tube and a comparatively thick shotgun barrel.
I very much doubt the socket trick would work on a barrel.

As above, the shotgun dent remover hydraulic tool is the way to go.

 

[Bullseye]

I watched the Midway video and checked out the rental of a dent raiser from 4D.
Very interesting but that is an expensive rental in my opinion.
It looked easy enough that even a caveman could do it but now knowing what is involved, I may run this past a gunsmith who just might have the tools already.
I know it won't be a big and time consuming job anyway. If I can't find a gunsmith with the tool, I might rent one. But I doubt it. The prices to do what Larry from Midway did would set me back with the deposit.

Shotgun 12 Gauge Dent Raising tool 60.00 deposit 450.00 $ 510.00
Shotgun 12 GA X 2.75 inch finish reamer 33.00 deposit 175.00 $ 208.00
Subtotal: $ 718.00
and I suppose shipping too.

The dent is very minor which is a good thing since it might even disappear completely and the steel will not be stretched all that much to make the area a trouble spot.
Thanks, I do think that the dent raiser tool is the way to go.

 

[Jim K]

I didn't check, but there used to be a manual dent remover that was a lot cheaper than the hydraulic one. Once the head was positioned under the dent, the rod was turned with a hex wrench to expand the pads and push out the dent. Most gunsmiths have a dent remover (of one kind or another), so for a one-off it would probably be cheaper to have the work done than to buy the tool.

Note that in many cases, whatever caused the dent will also have marred the barrel enough that a complete job will require refinishing the barrel, often a lot more complex and difficult job (especially with double guns) than removing the dent.

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

Dumb question?

But is the dent visible inside the barrel?

Or just on the outside?

rc

 

[Jim K]

Shotgun barrels are relatively thin and dents are common, so almost all gunsmiths that do any shotgun work have dent removers. If a local smith does not, and the barrel is removable (many shotgun barrels are), it is easy to send the barrel to a specialist.

Jim

 

[Bullseye]

But is the dent visible inside the barrel?

Or just on the outside?

rc

RC ... I actually have to turn the barrel to see it and did to show this at it's worst in just the right light.
Inside, I can see a tiny bit of distortion where the outer ding is. This is a pretty nice Ithaca NID with single selective trigger and barrel indicators. It has been pretty well taken care of save the ding. Click on the attachment, best I can do with my camera.

 

[Red Cent]

I would not think the dent would affect the performance of the shotgun. The wad is flexible and a little forgiving.
The ID of a 12 gauge bore is a nominal .729". When back bored, the bore can be opened to .740" if the thickness of the barrel will allow it. This is at or near the maximum ID that will allow the wad to perform properly. The cost of someone reaming the bore would not be productive IMO. Lengthening the forcing cones and back boring to .740" will reduce felt recoil and enhance shot group.
Removing the dent on the exterior, I have no idea.

 

[Bullseye]

No, it has not affected the performance, just my OCD here. If I stare at the dent and not appreciate the almost 90 year old gun for what is good about it I'll not be happy.
I don't use it anymore. I was hoping that it was an easy fix and that I could trade it off for something I would use and didn't want to listen to somebody pointing the dent out and whining about the value.

 

[beag_nut]

I made my own dent remover from some very old instructions I found somewhere online (could have been someone's download of a Herter's blurb from many decades ago). One should be able to find it online if persistent enough. Anyway, it used simple threaded rod, a union nut ( a.k.a. coupling nut), simple grinding on a bench grinder, and a brass hammer. Once the "tool" is made, one guides it down the inside of the barrel to place it under the dent, begin tightening the rod, and gently tap the outside of the barrel until "most" of the dent has disappeared. Once the dent looks good on the outside, it just about disappears internally. Then some cold bluing (Oxpho-Blue), and the job is done. If someone finds the instructions online, I'd gladly send them the coupling nut (modified for 12 ga.) , no cost other than a shipping envelope they supply. I have no more need, but couldn't just throw it away!

 

[Zeke/PA]

A TSJC student was at one time offered a shotgun barrel dent remover as part of his/her projects.This tool works well but it means a reblue job and in the case of a double, a reblue job done by someone with his act together!

 

[Jim K]

^^^

Yep; a bluing tank is a quick and easy way to turn a double barrel into two single barrels.

Jim

 

[Bullseye]

beag_nut is sending me something here that he mentioned above. I will make the best of it and give a report with pictures. Might be awhile.

LATE EDIT: The tool part arrived, will get on it, seems simpler than I was thinking. Will update.
Thank you beag_nut

 

[Bullseye]

OK ... worked on this yesterday ... pictures will follow later today.
( I'm just reminding myself to follow-up as promised )

EDIT FOLLOW-UP

I have decided to sell the double here on THR after taking a bunch of pictures today.

The tool image here is screwed onto a threaded rod which I taped to avoid scratches ( and did avoid doing so )
There was still a tiny amount of play after inserting to the point of the dent in the barrel. I used a clean brass hammer over an area that I also patched with electrical tape to avoid scratching the outside of the barrel.

I tapped a number of times and hard enough that if there was going to be any changes it would have occurred.
Perhaps there was a little improvement but I quit before I made anything worse than it was. So I would say, if this is any better it is minimal, but I didn't make it worse.

Here's some pics.

 

[DeanDallas]

I always used a wooden dowl near the size of the barrel & just lightly tap the dent with a rubber hamer. They always poped out with no problems.

 

[fguffey]

DeanDallas, then there are expanding mandrels, some with tappers others are threaded.

F. Guffey